io6 By Leafy Ways. 



before May, and he leaves us in the beginning of 

 August. Stragglers may linger in September; one 

 only has ever been seen in November. 



There is still some uncertainty with regard to the 

 movements of the cuckoo. He disappears from the 

 scene, to a great extent at least, when he loses his 

 voice ; and as far as the old birds are concerned it is 

 no doubt true that 



' In July he prepares to fly ; 

 In August go he must.' 



There is, however, a version which goes on : 



' In September you'll him remember ; 

 But October he'll never get over.' 



And the young birds certainly stay much later than 

 their parents. As late as the middle of August young 

 cuckoos have been seen in the act of being fed by 

 attendant wagtails. Your first impression will very 

 likely be that a hawk is devouring a brood of young 

 birds, and that the parents are uttering cries of distress. 

 But on approaching the spot you will find that it is a 

 cuckoo, not a hawk ; strong of wing, and apparently 

 well able to forage for itself, surrounded by a little 

 group of industrious wagtails busily occupied in 

 dropping food into its mouth; while the screams 

 proceed from the cuckoo itself, as with outspread 

 wings and gaping beak it calls continually for more. 

 Now and then one of its slaves will get even on its 

 back, so as to be able more easily to supply its wants. 

 The silence of the cuckoo in the late summer, and 



